Bulletin - United States National Museum - si-pddr - Smithsonian ...

412 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
on the feathers of the entire dorsal surface. The sides and flanks
are deeper in color and the winf^ and tail feathers blacker. Three
juvenile birds, all fully grown (secured February 15, 17, and 19),
compared with specimens of argentina in similar stage, have the
dark markings blacker and average slightly more rufescent on the
dorsal surface. The adult male has tlie follow^ing measurements
Wing, 73.3; tail, 62.5; culmen, 13.4; tarsus, 23.6 mm. Comparative
material at hand representing capensls is slight, so that the specimens
under discussion are allocated under that name because of
their dark coloration, in spite of the fact that they seem a trifle
large. They may be representatives of a distinct race not at present
recognized.
From February 14 to 19 these birds were common in thickets near
the Rio Negro, where they were found in little parties in which
adults, young in molt, and those that had just attained juvenal
plumage fed together in amity. The breeding season was about
completed and adults and young were in many cases in ragged
molting plumage.
BRACHYSPIZA CAPENSIS ARGENTINA Todd
Brachyspisa capensis argentina Todd, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 33,
Dec. 30, 1920, p. 71. (Rio Santiago, near Buenos Aires, Argentina.)
Specimens assigned to this form were taken as follows : Buenos
Aires (Province)—Berazategui (near Buenos Aires), June 29, 1920;
Lavalle (formerly known as Ajo), October 23, 30, and November
1 (5 specimens) ; Carhue, December 15 and 17 (3 sj^ecimens) ;
Guamini, March 4 and 7, 1921 ; Ingeniero White (the port of Bahia
Blanca), December 13, 1920. Pampa—Victorica, December 23 and
27. Chaco—Resistencia, July 8 and 9; Las Palmas, July 16. Uruguay—San
Vicente, January 25, 29, and 31 (4 specimens).
The series from the Province of Buenos Aires is uniform, with
allowance for the changes due to seasonal wear. A single specimen
from Berazategui in winter is from within a few miles of the type
locality, while others from Lavalle are not far distant. Other
specimens from Bahia Blanca, in the extreme south, are not notice-
ably diiferent from those mentioned from near the type-locality.
A breeding female from Victorica, Pampa, in appearance is also
typical of this subspecies. Birds shot in winter near Resistencia
and Las Palmas, Chaco, not far from the Paraguay River, have the
measurements of ai^gentina^ but average somewhat darker, one female
especially having an olive wash that deepens considerably the
color of the dorsal surface. These seem to represent an approach to
what is now considered capensis, but lack the distinctly rufescent
markings of that bird. A small series of skins from San Vicente,
: